One of the competition directions for modern Small Business ERP applications is their flexibility or ability to be tailored according to unique business requirements. In historical perspective customization was initially offered through reserved so-called ‘user defined fields’ and later on customization was slowly ported into settings or in other words being included in the metadata.
SAP B1 allows custom tables and fields in the settings meaning in metadata which resides in the same SQL database as the company data. This approach doesn’t require custom coding in order to create new user defined object and its simple data entry interface. This method also makes custom objects neutral to version upgrade if this is a concern. If your goal is new fields or tables for something like managerial Crystal reporting then you are done with settings only without the need for a single line of code. However it is often the case when custom objects require their own business logic to participate in integrations. Modified or newly created business logic might include triggering and other procedures. If your alternative logic is simple and tiny in its scope then it is generally not difficult to find technical consultant who should be able to help you with coding. We would like to review scenarios when alternative logic is moderate or even substantial in its scope:
1. SAP B1 Software Development Factory concept. Technology partner may decide to specialize in programming exclusively or as its major activity and give up initial software sales efforts leaving them to other resellers. Technology partner runs scalable software development team structured to do estimations, architecture design, coding and quality assurance. It might be not realistic to expect software development factory bearing VAR to be located next door to your office or even to be local to your business metro. Not every implementation requires modification and this is why technology firm has to expand its servicing area and address nationwide and even international ERP modifications market
2. Phased approach in Small Business ERP implementation. It is recommended to do one step at the time. In the sales cycle try to find ERP platform which is brand name and you feel that you got good references about it and at the same time which is covering the majority of your requirements leaving only reasonable portion to be covered by custom programming. Then try to restrict implementation phase one to just generic data conversion, user training and going into production with standard business logic. This first phase could be done by local consulting firm and these people can chat with technology partner on setting the expectations on system tailoring. When you feel that system is reliable in its standard logic and your users are comfortable you can plan for the phase two where you are expecting software development
3. VAR of record. It is common practice in accounting and ERP consulting that you have one reseller who is helping you with possible issues and projects as well as representing you on the level of ERP publishing company or in our case with SAP. If you feel that you established excellent relations with current VAR and your coding project scope is reasonably moderate and your consulting partner can handle it by subcontracting to technology partner then situation should be discussed with current reseller. Otherwise it might be advisable to discuss the possibility to switch to technology partner with Software Development Factory in staff as your official VAR of record
4. Typical projects in the second phase. The majority of cases are about integration programming where you are importing data into custom tables from external database and then processing records with something like creating Ecommerce shopping cart in AR Invoice with Payment. These projects are usually done in Microsoft Visual Studio VB or C# coding as SAP BO Software Development Kit has code samples in these programming languages
5. Complex Crystal Reports. Simple reports could be created directly via wizard by somebody who is making his or her first steps in CR design. Advanced reporting is usually based on SQL Stored Procedure or View where designer tests record set in SQL Management Studio prior to beginning report layout design in Crystal. It is apparent that SQL Stored procedure is a way more flexible comparing to intuitive table link in Crystal Report design wizard
6. Please call us 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904 (for international customers, where our representative pick up the phone in St. Joseph, MI call center). help@efaru.com. We have local presence in Chicagoland, Southern California, South West Michigan and Houston and Dallas areas of Texas. We serve customers USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil nationwide and internationally via web sessions and phone conferences (Skype is welcomed). Our consultants speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Chinese. We feature our expertise is in International Business. We provide second opinion in SB1 data migration, customization and reporting
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